Hexcel to Launch New Materials for Aerospace at Maks Moscow Air Show

20 August 2013

Composite material innovation is being promoted by Hexcel on its stand at the Moscow Air Show (MAKS).

Hexcel say its display will include HexPly 8552 and M21 prepregs for primary and secondary aircraft structures and HexWeb honeycombs. The stand will also include Hexcel’s PrimeTex carbon fibre fabrics in which the fibres are spread in both the warp and weft direction to provide a uniform weave and gap-free finish. Hexcel says the PrimeTex spreading process increases the closure factor by 5-8% compared to conventional weaving processes, and claims PrimeTex also allows high K tow fibres to be used without increasing the areal weight of the fabric or the closure factor between the warp and the weft, unlike traditional woven carbon fabrics. The gap-free structure reduces porosity in laminates which require less part finishing operations. In honeycomb sandwich structures PrimeTex skins provide excellent water tightness, making it idea for aircraft belly fairings and helicopter structures. Very Low Weight PrimeTex, which is available at 98 gsm with HS3K carbon fibre or 160 gsm with IM12K fibre, can lower the mass of a composite structure, resulting in even greater weight savings than with standard composite reinforcements.

The company say it will also be promoting the newly launched HiTape Advanced Reinforcements for Out of Autoclave (OOA) Processed Aircraft Primary Structures. Developed with next-generation aircraft primary structures and engine/nacelle components in mind, HiTape combines the benefits of automated processing with the cost-effectiveness of Out of Autoclave infusion technologies. Parts produced with HiTape and Hexcel’s HexFlow infusion resins can be up to 30mm thick with a 58 to 60% Fibre Volume Content. The mechanical properties are therefore as high as those found in parts made with the latest generation primary structure prepregs.